Indian types of beauty

"Indian Types of Beauty" by Robert W. Shufeldt is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The book explores the diverse standards of beauty as perceived by various Native American tribes, particularly focusing on Indian women from different cultural backgrounds. It examines how beauty ideals are influenced by ethnicity and cultural context, reflecting broader anthropological themes regarding aesthetics and social perceptions. Shufeldt analyzes the physical features, ornamentation practices, and cultural significance behind the beauty standards among tribes such as the Navajos, Pueblo Indians, Apaches, and Mojaves. For instance, he delves into the characteristics that different tribes admire in women's appearances, such as skin color, hairstyle, and body shape. The narrative includes vivid descriptions of individual women, like Anserino from the Navajos and Tzashima from Laguna, to illustrate these beauty ideals, while also considering how societal roles and traditions shape the perception of beauty within each community. Through this exploration, the author presents a comprehensive view of how cultural variances create distinct and contrasting definitions of attractiveness among Native American tribes. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Robert Wilson Shufeldt Jr. was an American osteologist, myologist, museologist and ethnographer who contributed to comparative studies of bird anatomy and forensic science. He held strong views on race and was a proponent of white supremacy. A scandal and subsequent divorce from his second wife, the granddaughter of the famous ornithologist John James Audubon, led to a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court of the United States of America on the subject of alimony and bankruptcy.